Happy Sunday, Seed Plantings, Instagram Fun Linky, and a Clip Art Sale Worth Checking Out

Sunday is here. That means tomorrow is Monday. The school year is winding down quickly. We have 20 school days left. Only 19 of those are with children. Among those days, we still have award ceremonies, a talent show presentation, a field trip, and field day. Plus, the "big kids" have testing the second week of May. As a teacher, I just have to make sure my kids aren't running and hollering in the halls. My students wouldn't do that anyway! :) As a mom, I have a 7th and 3rd grader who will have to test. I really feel bad for them. Testing is stressful!

Last Thursday, my class planted Spelt Grass Seeds. I gave them a cup to draw a face. The seeds will grow to look like "hair". I hope they have sprouted by tomorrow. We need something to take our minds off the tadpole incident. I would also like to plant our Lima Bean Seeds next week. I've done that every year, so I surely can't skip it this year. It will add to our already full days. 

What the Teacher Wants and Apples and ABC's will host an
 Instagram Linky every Tuesday. Fun! 

Linky rules:

link up with a blog post,

 sharing this image 

link back to this linky party

  your user name

 and a couple of your favorite Instagram photos!  

(don't just link up to your instagram account)  ;)

You can follow me @dawnmkey

A few of my favorite photos:

 Crazy sock day during Read Across America Week

Read Across America Week with my girls

 Ocean Adventures

Frog Fun

Now, about that clip art sale that is definitely worth checking out. Sonya DeHart is having a $1 sale on her website. She is super talented! Click on the picture to go to her website and do a little shopping. 

A Spring Freebie and Let's Get Acquainted

I have a bad case of stripes spring fever! I want warm weather. I'm ready to wear my capris and flip flops. 

For our last week of school before Spring Break, I made a Spring Syllable activity for my kiddos to use. They loved it, and they all did a great job reading the words and listening for the number of syllables in each word. 

Click to check it out
Teachers pay Teachers          
Teachers Notebook

I decided to make a Spring ABC Order for my kiddos to use when we go back next week. I put it on TpT and TN as a freebie. 

Click to download it for free if you can use it. 
Teachers pay Teachers          
Teachers Notebook

It seems like all the cool cats are linking up with Latoya Reed from Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party. I've been reading and guessing on some of the lies that were told last week. I just can't pass up on joining in on the fun this week.

The Noun Game: Name your favorite person, place, thing, and animal.
Person

I have four favorite people. My husband and our three children. Life is full of ups and downs, but these four are always there for me at the end of the day. 

Place

My favorite place would probably be the beach. I can lay on a beach chair for hours!

Thing

My favorite thing would definitely be my cellular! 

 My pink zebra case makes me smile. I found it on Amazon for less than $5 because I'm cheap like that!

Animal

To be truthful, I don't really like animals. They're cute and all, but they require more attention than I'm willing to give right now. My kids want a dog, but we simply are not home enough to take care of an animal. I do love the looks of the zebra though. 

I guess since spring break will be over soon, I need to get some things cleaned and organized. 

Inspiration Monday

Oh yeah! This is how my day started! One of my little kiddos brought me a bag of chocolate. So sweet! :)

There are only four days until Spring Break. I'm really going to make it. We had a pretty good Monday. I think I'm mostly excited because I had an idea. I'm sure most of you already thought about this, but it's just coming to me. I think my brain processes all of the difficult ways before coming up with the easiest way to work things smoothly in our classroom. 

Click the picture to check it out.

Spring Syllables, a new activity I made, inspired me to figure out a better way to set up the activities I have for my kiddos to do during Word Work. After taking the time to create, laminate, and cut out an activity, I really want my kids to enjoy it and take care of it. 

I have been storing activities in the large envelopes. I don't know why, but I just don't like them. I don't like file folders either.

This is what I came up with. It's a two pocket folder. I glued the directions to the front cover. 

The left pocket holds all of the cut-out pieces in a Ziploc bag. 

The right pocket holds the half page recording sheets. 

Now, I don't know about y'all, but I don't like having to look for the master copy when all of the recording sheets run out if it's an activity my kids really like and use a lot. My solution for that is to leave a master copy in the folder with the activity. I drew a yellow line on it with a highlighter since yellow highlighter doesn't show up when it's copied. 

If you want the activity to be a self-checking one, you can glue the answer key on the back. I just put it there as an example since I correct their papers. 

This is what the activity looks like in action. There are 8 words for each syllable. 

Yes, that makes me excited. I really think I'm going to like the way it works. I hope so anyway. 

Each Monday, you can link up your inspirations with Fun in 1st Grade.

St. Patrick's Day Sale

I'm linking up with a sweet blogger, Amy, from Albuquerque Amy's First Graders for her first Linky party. We are offering 20% off at our TpT stores on Sunday, March 17. 

Click on the picture if you'd like to link up, too!

Thank you to the ladies who are participating in my giveaway. All of those who commented on my post should have gotten an email. If you didn't, please let me know. I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of gals, and I will be all set. 

Ta-Ta for now!

Inspiration Monday

It's time to link up with Dana at Fun in 1st Grade for her Inspiration Monday Linky. 

There are so many new things coming down the pipes, especially with Common Core. Some of the skills are quite tough for my first grade babies (and for myself to make sure I'm teaching the standard to the best of my ability). It's all overwhelming at times. I  want to teach my kiddos, and I want them to enjoy learning at the same time. Common Core is new, so it will take a lot of time, practice, and commitment to learn it to it's full extent. 

I'm not a baseball fan, but they saying is great! 

I will keep calm and teach on!! :)

Go by Dana's blog and link up your inspiration!

Inspiration Monday Linky

I'm linking up with Dana over at Fun in 1st Grade again for her Inspiration Monday. Click on the button if you'd like to link up and find some inspiration. 

This is what I posted last week because I truly love my students. 

This is my inspiration for this week. :)

Dear Mrs. Key

You are sweet. You are nice. 

You have a heart that shines. 

(She drew a picture of us.)

That is a note from a first grader. Does it get any sweeter than that? I get notes and pictures on a daily basis from my kiddos. They just make me smile. However, there is something extra special about a sincere note. It inspires me to continue doing what I'm doing. I may not have every lesson perfectly planned. I may mess up from time to time but in their eyes, I'm doing it just right. 

Inspiration Monday Linky

We all need inspiration. Having an Inspiration Monday Linky is perfect. I'm linking up with Dana from Fun in 1st Grade for her first linky party. 

This saying is close to my heart. I love it because it's true. I love my students, and they know it. 

Also, I'm part of an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G Giveaway. Ciera Harris of Adventures of Room 129 has reached 600 followers, and her number is steadily growing. Y'all, she has the cutest twins!! Go check it out. 

Back to school and a freebie Linky

It is back to school for me tomorrow. It's a PD day, so I won't get to see my little loves until Thursday. I sure hope they all had a great Christmas break. You just never know...

I do feel (a little) bad that my own kids have to wake up so early. I always take them with me. Does your school allow you to bring your kids? I'm thankful mine does.

I'm linking up my Happy New Year Freebie with Teachingisagift. It's what we will use the two days when the kiddos come back to school.

 

You can click the picture to check it out.

 

I'm off now to prepare my alarm clock and my lunch.

Farewell 2012 Sale

Blogging and making things to sell are all still new to me. I started my little TpT store back in October. I never really thought my creations would sell. I was wrong. Things have sold. Amazing. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I'm up for the challenge (I think..hehe).

I have a new blogging buddy from Keepin' It Kool In Kinderland. Her creations look wonderful! Plus, she has several fonts in her TpT store. Get this...they're FREE! That makes me want to sing. Only I don't sound good, so I will spare your ears! :)

Anywho, I'm linking up with her to have a Farewell 2012 Sale. I just had a two day sale to celebrate my youngest daughter's birthday, but that's okay. Shop away!

 

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!!

Wrap Up the End of the Year Sale

I'm not usually a last minute shopper, but I can't seem to get everything together this year. I can't figure out how people keep up with teaching, blogging, TpT, their own children, and everyday life. Whoo! There are not enough hours in a day.

I sure hope I find some great sales when I try to finish Christmas shopping this weekend. For the last minute shoppers, I have decided to link up with First Grade and Fabulous and put my little TpT store on sale. I have a few fun things in there that will help me get through the rest of this week and next week.  

Good Night! :)